An overview of thorium as a prospective natural resource for future energy

Thorium is a naturally occurring radioactive element that has been identified as potential alternative fuel for nuclear energy production. Additionally, thorium-based reactors have inherent safety features reduce the risk of accidents and proliferation. As result, there growing interest in development viable to fossil fuels. This paper looks at present status thorium technology, providing an overview prospective natural resource future energy, global availability mineral supplies, discusses technical, economic, environmental factors may influence its implementation. Potential advantages challenges critical further associated with are highlighted well, outlook on prospects provided. offers advantageous physical chemical properties over uranium, higher density, produces less waste, addition greater abundance, making it be considered “future fuel”. There concerns about cost scalability uncertainty around develop, build, operate reactors, not yet demonstrated large-scale commercial reactors—although almost all current reactor types built run using thorium—as case Uranium-based technology—the dominant form half century, having received much more investment attention than technology. contribute towards sustainable industry, including lower lifecycle emissions efficient utilization, but this, acceleration efforts date needed ensure this becomes important climate change stabilizing wedge by mid-21st century.